Comments on: How to Profit from Energy Illiteracy http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html Deal With Reality or It Will Deal With You Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:09:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-877 Chris Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:49:21 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1059#comment-877 Well said Eric! Well said Eric!

]]> By: emeyerson http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-876 emeyerson Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:46:59 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1059#comment-876 Fascinating post, and true. This is the way I've been trying to talk about energy with my fellow laymen, many of whom, like commenter #3, are stuck on the greenhouse gas issue and can't see or won't believe that the world is using up its recoverable fossil fuels. Or commenter #4, who think that the markets will price in scarcity that's 20 years away. (Some good that's done for commercial fishing.) Or others, who think that scarcity is caused by domestic socialists who won't let us drill our own God-given oil and gas. The scale of the energy problem is mind-boggling, but one fundamental truth sits at its core -- we are using up our fossil energy, and until we derive viable alternatives, we must use less. Starting now. Fascinating post, and true. This is the way I’ve been trying to talk about energy with my fellow laymen, many of whom, like commenter #3, are stuck on the greenhouse gas issue and can’t see or won’t believe that the world is using up its recoverable fossil fuels. Or commenter #4, who think that the markets will price in scarcity that’s 20 years away. (Some good that’s done for commercial fishing.) Or others, who think that scarcity is caused by domestic socialists who won’t let us drill our own God-given oil and gas.

The scale of the energy problem is mind-boggling, but one fundamental truth sits at its core — we are using up our fossil energy, and until we derive viable alternatives, we must use less. Starting now.

]]> By: gisher http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-873 gisher Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:59:55 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1059#comment-873 I wanted to ask Russell how any energy market that has the price-fixing of OPEC entwined in it could possibly be considered a free market? I wanted to ask Russell how any energy market that has the price-fixing of OPEC entwined in it could possibly be considered a free market?

]]> By: Russell Nelson http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-866 Russell Nelson Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:48:41 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1059#comment-866 <i>I don’t know how to escape politics and still make policy.</i> It's good that you admit that. Chances are good that all policy is bad. If you do a calculation of the amount of carbon in fossil fuels, you'll find that it's not likely that burning the rest of it will have much of an effect on the carbon already in the atmosphere (the marginal effect of the next pound of carbon is less than the previous pound, etc.) No carbon tax needed. Peak oil, peak natural gas, and peak coal are real problems. Fortunately, no policy is needed here -- just secure property rights and no regulation (specifically, if you restrict speculation, you are screwed). The speculators will ensure that the future value of the fossil fuel is brought into the present, which will cause people to invest in new sources of energy in time to get them into place. Ultimately, the problem is that you've given up the only workable solution: a firm committment against political interference in energy markets. You've explained that politics can't work. Your next step is to realize that free markets CAN work, but only if they're left free. When all else fails, try freedom. I don’t know how to escape politics and still make policy. It’s good that you admit that. Chances are good that all policy is bad. If you do a calculation of the amount of carbon in fossil fuels, you’ll find that it’s not likely that burning the rest of it will have much of an effect on the carbon already in the atmosphere (the marginal effect of the next pound of carbon is less than the previous pound, etc.) No carbon tax needed.

Peak oil, peak natural gas, and peak coal are real problems. Fortunately, no policy is needed here — just secure property rights and no regulation (specifically, if you restrict speculation, you are screwed). The speculators will ensure that the future value of the fossil fuel is brought into the present, which will cause people to invest in new sources of energy in time to get them into place.

Ultimately, the problem is that you’ve given up the only workable solution: a firm committment against political interference in energy markets. You’ve explained that politics can’t work. Your next step is to realize that free markets CAN work, but only if they’re left free. When all else fails, try freedom.

]]> By: Alz http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-865 Alz Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:37:20 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1059#comment-865 Seems like a waste of time....here's why: why bother lowering greenhouse gases? How can we believe even the best computer models? It's like we are being FORCED to BET EVERYTHING on someone's stock pick going out 50 years. It's ludicrous. These models are not that good. There is probably more of a chance that the tooth fairy exists! Seems like a waste of time….here’s why: why bother lowering greenhouse gases? How can we believe even the best computer models? It’s like we are being FORCED to BET EVERYTHING on someone’s stock pick going out 50 years. It’s ludicrous. These models are not that good. There is probably more of a chance that the tooth fairy exists!

]]> By: vvurdsmyth http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-864 vvurdsmyth Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:17:36 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1059#comment-864 The only problem is that methane and nitrous oxide are far worse greenhouse gases than CO2 and no one seems to be addressing them. But as for CO2, carbon fibers are the basis for relatively new materials called carbon composites. Those, plus carbon nano and other carbon based applications may be a way of sequestering carbon. With autos, primarily carbon composites as well as c/c building materials, we can take a lot of carbon out of circulation. Now, only if we can find some alternate uses for methane and nitrous oxide... The only problem is that methane and nitrous oxide are far worse greenhouse gases than CO2 and no one seems to be addressing them. But as for CO2, carbon fibers are the basis for relatively new materials called carbon composites. Those, plus carbon nano and other carbon based applications may be a way of sequestering carbon. With autos, primarily carbon composites as well as c/c building materials, we can take a lot of carbon out of circulation. Now, only if we can find some alternate uses for methane and nitrous oxide…

]]> By: solargroupies http://www.getreallist.com/how-to-profit-from-energy-illiteracy.html/comment-page-1#comment-862 solargroupies Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:59:41 +0000 http://www.getreallist.com/?p=1059#comment-862 This entry is the equivalent of half a dozen really deep posts in my opinion, ranging from tax to politics to your statistics to public indolence.... There are so many good pieces here and essential concepts we need to understand. Tanks for bringing them out - it is fuel for discussion in my blog and lets hope with policy-makers. This entry is the equivalent of half a dozen really deep posts in my opinion, ranging from tax to politics to your statistics to public indolence…. There are so many good pieces here and essential concepts we need to understand. Tanks for bringing them out – it is fuel for discussion in my blog and lets hope with policy-makers.

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